Roger Federer: 'At one point, I could not have the right to lose anymore'

Roger Federer had to deal with pressure for many years, and he still does it, although he now handles it better. In an interview to Le Monde, the Swiss player commented on this topic. 'I find myself answering questions about Monte Carlo and Rome and why I never won these tournaments.

You cannot win everything. I tried it for 15 years. The most important thing is not to have regrets.' Federer dominated tennis for several seasons, that's why expectations on him were very big. 'For years, people were upset when I was losing a set.

It seemed almost that, for journalists, I didn't have the right to lose a match anymore. Was I reaching a final? It wasn't okay. The semifinals? Not even. A quarter-final? It was like I had lost in the first round. Everything really became extreme.' He also praised his rivals: 'I felt myself frustrated many times because you didn't give results the true value.

Rafa (Nadal), Novak (Djokovic) and (Andy) Murray started to win many tournaments but for media everything was normal. It's not normal at all. What Novak and Rafa do is simply unbelievable and I am not sure that everyone are really aware about it.' Federer won 98 career-titles so far and on Sunday he could win his 99th by beating Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati final.